In a swirl of excitement, Liang Feng entered the hall, impeccably dressed, and ran right into me.
“Well, if it isn’t Yulin. Here to see the new top scholar?” Liang Feng snapped open his fan, flashing a roguish smile. “Long time no see , it feels like ages.”
“I’m Yulin, my sister is Yulin who exactly is your Yulin? Can’t you pick one and call her ‘Big Yulin’ or something?”
Liang Feng’s foxlike eyes glinted. “Oh? How does the young lord know I call my wife Yulin?”
Oops ....slipped up!
Quickly, I covered. “Didn’t you just go home for a visit? I sat with my sister for a while she told me.”
I flicked my ponytail smugly, but as I tried to leave, I realized Liang Feng had already caught the end of my hair between his fingers.
“I just got married , how did your hair get shorter, young lord?”
I slapped his hand away. “Are you a child? Stop pulling people’s hair!”
“My apologies, Yulin. I just noticed you smell nice ,almost like me.”
I glared at him. Did he suspect the truth? Was he hinting that he knew I was his “bride”?
We ended up sitting together upstairs. Normally, we were rivals each holding court at our own table, never mixing. But tonight, the crowd pushed us together. “You’re family now! Sit together!”
“Who’s family with him?” I grumbled.
Someone joked, “Young lord, you’re his brother-in-law now. No matter how much you protest, everyone knows the prince and his consort are inseparable rumor has it they almost missed the imperial audience after their wedding night! You should just call him ‘brother-in-law.’”
“What? I thought everyone was saying he was kicked out of the bridal chamber on his wedding night!”
“If I was in the study, who was in the bridal chamber?” Liang Feng said, hiding a smile behind his fan, eyes twinkling.
I finally understood what it meant to suffer in silence. Frustrated, I downed a cup of wine in one gulp.
“Why’s the young lord drinking alone? Should I join you?” The famed courtesan, Lady Lianhua, glided over.
Liang Feng set his cup down and slipped an arm around my shoulders. “No need.”
“How do you know I don’t need company? Tonight, I want to drink with the beautiful ladies.”
Liang Feng’s aura turned icy. “Then I’ll join you.”
“Wait, what do you mean, you’ll join me?”
“It’s my third day of marriage, and you’re out drinking with courtesans. If you can, why can’t I?”
“You’re the married one, not me! That’s not proper!” I quickly pulled his hands away and told the girls, “Go, all of you don’t bother him; he’s a married man.”
Liang Feng was famous for never frequenting brothels. The courtesans even had a running bet on who could seduce him first. Sitting with him tonight, I realized, wasn’t so bad I could at least keep him out of trouble.
“Last night you said you only loved me, wanted to spend every day and night together, and now you’re out drinking rotten scoundrel!” I grumbled inwardly.
But Liang Feng returned to his gentle self, squeezing my hand under the table and gazing at me. “Yes, I already have a wife.”
The crowd hooted. “Young lord, you’re keeping a close eye on your brother-in-law anyone would think you two were married!”
Blushing, I tried to pull my hand away, but he placed it on his thigh, holding it tight.
Liang Feng addressed the crowd, “Forgive us, I’ll drink three cups as punishment.”
He drank heartily that night, never refusing a challenge. Whenever I lost a drinking game, he drank for me.
“Yulin’s a bit tipsy. Since we’re family, I’ll take his penalties.”
Before long, he was completely drunk.
“Young lord, take your brother-in-law home. Usually, he takes care of you pays your bar tabs, makes sure you get home safe. It’s your turn to return the favor.”
I was stunned. “What do you mean?”
“You didn’t know? Every time you got into trouble at Azure Pavilion, he handled it paid your debts, saw you home. He’s always been the one looking out for you.”
“When did this happen? I never noticed.”
I’d always thought my friends took turns treating me and getting me home. I even gave them expensive gifts in return.
“Haha, you really were drunk. But I think tonight, the prince will finally get his wish he’s been waiting for you to invite him for a drink.
The journey back to the Wang Manor was a blur of tangled thoughts and restless memories.
Liang Feng and I had grown up together he was the heir, I was the companion. He was always the center of attention, praised for his talents and virtues, while I, Qiao Yulin, though a noble’s son myself, was forever cast in his shadow. Over time, the weight of comparison made me resentful. I stopped wanting to play with him, to listen to him recite poetry, or to trail after him as his little sidekick.
When I finally asked to leave the palace, Liang Feng stormed into my home, eyes red, and threw down a letter of severance written so elegantly I could barely read half the words declaring our friendship over.
Damn him.
I remembered that letter, and the childish pride and pain it carried. Now, I jabbed his cheek and muttered, “You’re the one who wanted to break ties. Were you just waiting for me to make up?”
Liang Feng leaned against my shoulder, and I stiffened, not daring to move the rest of the way home.
When we arrived, I helped him out of the carriage. He suddenly snapped awake. “What time is it?”
“Almost midnight.”
He dashed for the bridal chamber. “Wait! My sister isn’t angry, she’s not waiting up for you, she’s already asleep! Just sleep in the study tonight, please, you don’t need to be so proper ” But he was already gone, tipsy and determined.
I had no choice but to cut through the back and climb in through the window. Just as I landed inside, Liang Feng burst through the door.
I was about to be exposed!
Thinking fast, I spotted a steaming bath. As his shadow loomed behind the screen, I dove into the tub, letting my hair down and reclining like a pampered consort.
“What are you doing? How shameless to peek at me bathing!” I cried, feigning frailty as I undressed, my disguise still intact.
Liang Feng dropped to his knees beside the tub, voice trembling, “Yulin, I was nearly assaulted tonight so many courtesans surrounded me, I barely escaped.”
“Really?” I said, skeptical , after all, I’d been at the same banquet.
He leaned in, burying his face in my hair. “The scent of the brothel is so harsh. Yours is much better.”
“It’s not that bad…”
“Yulin, do I smell like someone else?”
I sniffed. “Maybe a little.”
“Will you wash it off for me?”
“How am I supposed to” Before I could finish, he kissed me, hard.
When he finally let go, breathless and dazed, he murmured, “Now I have your scent on me.”
I was stunned. Liang Feng had kissed me.
“But it’s not enough.” He gently brushed my wet hair aside and kissed me again, more passionately. In the haze of steam and longing, he lifted me from the water and carried me to the bed.
Only then did I understand what it meant to lose yourself in passion. Even just his kisses and caresses left me trembling, nearly undone.
As he fumbled with my robe, I caught his wrist. “Did I scare you?” he whispered, biting my lip softly, his breath hot against my neck. “I’ll sleep on the floor. Good night.”
With a thud, he collapsed and fell fast asleep.
“Hey!” I called, leaning over the bed.
No response.
“Liang Feng, are you serious?” I glanced at my pitiful self, grabbed a pillow, and hurled it at him. “I was ready! How am I supposed to sleep now?”
Damn him he could tease but not finish! Rotten scoundrel!
Chapter 03
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